Coyote - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Coyote (Canis latrans)

ORDER: Carnivora (Carnivores)
FAMILY: Canidae (Dogs)
SPECIES: Coyote (Canis latrans)

Coyote (Canis latrans)
The scientific name for coyotes, Canis latrans, means "Barking dog." - They are one of the only populations of animal wildlife that seem to be mostly increasing. - Coyotes have a keen sense of sight, smell, and hearing, which allow them to survive in many different areas. - There seems to a trend which shows coyotes becoming more brave and aggressive towards humans. - Coyotes do not hibernate during the winter. - Their lifespan is from 10-15 years in the wild. - Hearing a coyote is much more common than seeing one. The calls a coyote make are high-pitched and variously described as howls, yips, yelps and barks. -
SIZE	Weight: 15-45 pounds (7-20 kg) Shoulder Height: 15-20 inches (38-50cm) Length with tail: 40-60 inches (100-150cm) The coyotes in the east tend to significantly larger than the dessert or western coyote.
DESCRIPTION	Coyotes have sharp pointed ears which never drop, a sharp pointed nose, and long bushy tails. The color of the coyote's pelt varies greatly, but is normally from grayish brown to a reddish-gray on the upper parts, with buff underparts, long, slender legs. Sexual Dimorphism: Males are larger than females.
DEN	Coyotes usually dig their own den, but sometimes find a natural hole make it bigger. These animals use the holes to give birth to their pups and to sleep.
REPRODUCTION	The gestation period lasts from 58 to 65 days. Their litters range from 2-6 pups, though more than 6 is not unusual. The pups weigh approx. 225 grams (8 oz.) at birth and are initially blind and limp-eared. During the weeks following the birth, the male will bring food to the family, but the female will not allow him inside the den.
BEHAVIOR	Socially, coyotes live in a variety of arrangements. Some live alone, others in mated pairs, and others in packs, which may consist of one mated pair, their new young, and offspring from the previous season that have not yet left their parents.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE	They are found throughout most of North America. They occur as far north as Alaska and all but the most northern portions of Canada.
HABITAT	They have an enormous geographical distribution and can live in very diverse ecological settings, even successfully making their homes in suburbs, towns, and cities.
PREDATORS	The biggest predator of the coyote are humans. Ninety percent of coyote deaths are attributed to people through hunting with guns, poison, traps or killed accidentally with motor vehicles or farm equipment. Wolves, bears and Mountain Lions are also predators of the Coyote.
AS A PREDATOR	The Coyotes are the most common and the most serious predator of livestock in the western United States. In the west, they cause a majority of the predation losses of sheep, goats and cattle. In some states, this is also true for hogs and poultry.
DIET	They primarily eat small mammals, such as eastern cottontails, squirrels, and small rodents, though they will occasionally eat birds, snakes, large insects and other large invertebrates. They are omnivorous, eating plants, animals, and carrion. Though they will consume large amounts of carrion, they tend to prefer fresh meat. When they locate prey, the coyote's stiffen and pounce on the prey in a cat-like manner.

INTERESTING FACTS

Pelage

In mammals, pelage is the hair, fur, or wool that covers the animal. In many mammals, the pelage is made up of more than one type of hair.

Some of the most prominent types of hair that make up the pelage include:
guard hairs (any of the long coarse hairs forming a layer that covers and protects the soft underfur of certain mammals).
bristles (Short, stiff, course, or prickly hair as from a hog.).
underfur layer, which provides excellent insulation against cold conditions.

The pelage often molts (process that sheds hair) at various times in the animal's development. The juvenile pelage may go through an intermediate form before settling to an adult appearance.

Carrion

Carrion is dead animals. Some animals, such as crows, coyotes and vultures, eat carrion. This is important since they help "clean up" this dead material.


CLICK ON PICTURES FOR ENLARGED IMAGE

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Tyre Township Cayuga County, New York


Coyote-280_028081	Coyote-280_027840


Coyote-280_027817	Coyote-280_028067